PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT BREAST-CANCER VIA PUBLIC FORUMS

This study examines whether persons who attended a breast cancer educa tion summit or received written materials (i) exhibited improved knowl edge about breast cancer; and (ii) used the information themselves, sh ared it with others, or implemented community education/screening prog rams. Participants (92 lay persons, 67 health professionals who attend ed; 44 who did not attend but received written materials) were primari ly female, with a mean age of 47. They completed a 10-item knowledge q uestionnaire on four occasions (pre-conference, immediately post-confe rence, 9 weeks, 6 months). On the third and fourth occasion, participa nts also were asked how they had used the information. Paired samples t tests revealed that lay individuals (p < 0.001) and health professio nals (p < 0.001) exhibited improved knowledge of breast cancer after a ttending the conference, used the information in their personal health care, and shared it with others, and some implemented education and s creening programs. Of nonattendees, only the health professional group retained knowledge gain over time. A conference can produce increased knowledge about breast cancer and stimulate attendees to use informat ion for themselves and share it with others. For lay persons, conferen ce attendance is superior (p < 0.01) to written materials alone, in ac hieving long-term gain in knowledge.